The evening’s program began with Beth Barbre, Nevada Ballet Theatre executive director and CEO, joining James Canfield, the company’s artistic director, in thanking the dinner’s chairwoman and chairman, Susan and Randy Morton, and the honorary chairman, Bob Mackie. Canfield introduced dancers Mary LaCroix and Grigori Arakelyan, who performed “Rubies.”

Christian Kolberg conducted a live auction and the top bidders were rewarded with a bottle of Dom Perignon. Among the items for bid were two nights including all amenities at the Mansion at MGM Grand, that went for $9,000; four VIP tickets to the National Finals Rodeo in December and tickets for Shania Twain plus dinner at Guy Savoy, attracting a winning bid of $9,000; and two orchestra seats for “A Chorus Line” at the London Palladium with star Leigh Zimmerman of Las Vegas, plus airfare and lodging went twice for $7,000.

Other items for bid included dinner for 18 guests prepared by chef Shawn McClain, won for $15,000; a 10-day Oceania cruise for two along the Italian coast and French Riviera that brought in $16,000; and a two-night stay at Montage Beverly Hills with a $5,000 credit toward cosmetic surgery that sold for $7,000.